Mrs. Han didn’t ask Yun Jinnian what he had prayed for. Instead, she took him back to the Zen quarter, where after washing up and eating a vegetarian meal, he went to rest.
But Yun Jinnian couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.
He quietly got up, got dressed, and left the Zen quarter.
Carrying a lantern, he headed towards the Daxiong Treasure Hall.
He happened upon a monk on patrol. The monk, aware that a noble person was staying in the temple, showed no surprise upon seeing Yun Jinnian, "Benefactor, why are you not asleep at such a late hour?"
"I’d like to know, how do I get to the hall where the Everlasting Light is lit?"
The monk looked at Yun Jinnian, "Benefactor, do you want to light an Everlasting Light for a loved one?"
"In that case, benefactor, please follow me!"
Yun Jinnian followed the monk through several courtyards. Huguo Temple had stood for hundreds of years, and each courtyard had towering camphor trees, which were green all year round.
Faint rustling sounds could be heard, and Yun Jinnian glanced over.
"Are you scared, benefactor?" the monk asked.
Yun Jinnian shook his head, "Not at all!"
"You are quite brave, benefactor!"
Yun Jinnian slightly curved his lips but said nothing.
It was not that he was particularly brave; he had already experienced such terror in his dreams that, in the world, there was nothing more frightening than the human heart!
Upon arriving at the great hall, the monk responsible for the lights stepped forward, "Benefactor!"
Yun Jinnian also heard other monks inside the hall, chanting scriptures.
The Everlasting Light at Huguo Temple was expensive, perhaps because the chanting of scriptures never ceased throughout all twelve hours of the day!
"Master, I’d like to light an Everlasting Light, one that is most conspicuous, with scriptures chanted specifically for him every day!" Yun Jinnian said while handing over a stack of silver notes, a total of twenty thousand taels, "Master, this is for one year’s oil for the lamp; I will personally deliver more next year!"
The monk accepted the silver notes without counting and immediately placed them in the Merit Box.
"Please provide the birthdate and hour of the person for whom the lamp is to be lit!"
"Master, may I write it down myself?" Yun Jinnian asked.
Momo’s birthdate and hour belonged to a later time; it wouldn’t be appropriate to disclose it at present.
And if she wrote it and personally placed it in the Everlasting Light, she figured that ordinary people would not go to look at it.
Huguo Temple would also not allow it to be inspected.
"Benefactor, please go ahead."
Yun Jinnian sat down, wrote Momo’s date and hour of birth, and placed it in a yellow paper envelope. She wrote "Chu Mo" on the envelope and put it into the Everlasting Light.
There was an independent incense table in the area. The Everlasting Light was placed on the incense table. Yun Jinnian knelt in front of the table, silently praying in his heart, "Momo, I (your mother) will do whatever I can for you. If we truly are fated, even if it disgusts me to death, I (your mother) will take that gamble!"
Having suffered such cruel schemes in her dreams, she swore not to repeat the same mistakes in reality.
If Chu Liange was heartless and ruthless, she would take the initiative. She resolved to support Momo’s climb to power and, before that, she must make herself strong — strong enough to be resistant to blades, guns, and all poisons.
She pressed her hands against the cushion and bowed deeply.
Afterwards, she got up and headed back to the Zen quarter.
The monk led the way, and Yun Jinnian followed.
When Chu Yu appeared, the monk immediately gave his respects, "This monk has seen His Highness!"
"Step aside, this Prince wishes to speak with Miss Yun!" Chu Yu said indifferently.
The monk immediately bowed and retreated far away.
Only then did Chu Yu speak, "I heard you were sick, are you feeling better now?"
"Much better, and you? Is your injury healed? Is the poison completely neutralized? Do you need me to take your pulse?" Yun Jinnian asked.
"Come, let’s talk over there in the pavilion!"
There was a stone table and stone benches in the pavilion.
Yun Jinnian nodded, "Then let’s hurry, I’ve been out for quite a while. If I don’t return soon, my mother will worry!"
Upon reaching the pavilion, Chu Yu took off his cloak and placed it on the stone bench, "Sit down!"